Vinshine Audio DAC R2R-REF w/ soekris

[alvin1118]

What is USB I2S?

 
Hi Rigo,
 
The USB input is a Italy Amanero USB to I2S module . Similar to Lampizator Atlantic, we use Amanero USB to I2S module, feed the I2S signal to Soekris R2R DAC board.
 
Hope this clarify.
 
Many thanks.
 
Rgds,
Alvin

 

[slex]

Anyone has the holo to compare? And is the amp section synergies with soekris?

 

[Greg121986]

Anyone has the holo to compare? And is the amp section synergies with soekris?

I pre-ordered a Holo Audio Spring Level 3 last week. No idea when it will arrive. If I haven't sold my Vinshine DAC by then, I will be doing a comparison. 

 

[slex]

I pre-ordered a Holo Audio Spring Level 3 last week. No idea when it will arrive. If I haven't sold my Vinshine DAC by then, I will be doing a comparison. 

Great. May i know wat amp is intended for holo?

 

[uncola]

Would be great to get a comparison.  I use my dac-r2r-ref every day, it's been rock solid.  Still haven't popped in the audiofeel discrete opamp in the headphone amp board yet

 

[Greg121986]

  Would be great to get a comparison.  I use my dac-r2r-ref every day, it's been rock solid.  Still haven't popped in the audiofeel discrete opamp in the headphone amp board yet

Can you give some details on this? I'm not sure if I like the headphone amp. Once my Holo Spring L3 shows up, I might take the Vinshine to my office to use as a DAC/AMP. But, I've found that the headphone amp leaves a little bit to be desired for what I've experienced so far. It would be nice to know if/how it can be modded with various opamps.
 
My main system is Focal Electra 1028Be2 speakers with an Audio-GD Master 10 integrated amp. I've found this amp is quite transparent with a very slight warmth to it. I've been very happy with it. It responds very well to every DAC I've put in front of it and it allows the true character if each DAC to very easily be detected. It is a fully balanced amp so I think the balanced Holo Spring L3 will be a very clear improvement from the single ended Vinshine. I'm really looking forward to the comparison. 

 

[uncola]

sorry for the late response but it takes me a while to get around to things, I'm the king of procrastinating
tonight I tried to upgrade the opamp to my little-known korean discrete opamp the Audiofeel opa3301
 
tools needed
1) discrete opamp or at least a nicer ic opamp
2) ic puller(optional, you can always pry the old opamp out with a flathead or something)
3) torx t-8 screwdriver
 

 
 
unfortunately I found out my discrete opamp was too large and tall to fit due to the ribbon cable running over the opamp socket.  I could have disconnected the cable and replace the opamp with an ic opamp or a hybrid discrete/ic like the burson v5i but I only had a really big discrete opamp available.  In the pics the opamp is the thing wrapped in foil, I haven't removed it from the packaging yet.
 

 


 
as you can see it's too big so I was a total failure as an opamp roller.
 
On the plus side, I confirmed the dac is 10/10 when it comes to build quality, the circuit boards look extremely thick and all the components look perfectly put into place and brand new stock.  I felt like I was lifting the hood of a brand new supercar and looking at the polished and cleaned engine.  The panels are extremely thick and the tolerances of the way they fit together is super tight.  When I dropped the top plate back into place it made the noise a manhole cover makes when they drop it back into the hole in a movie.  All the rear i/o ports are super solid chassis mounted parts with nice hook up wire connecting to the pcb, much better than pcb mounted which rely on soldering to the pcb to stay in place, the type you'd see on cheaper components.  Or even some higher end ones.
 
edit:  so I learned probably the nicest opamp upgrade would be either a nice IC opamp or the Burson v5i, which is the one I'd probably try first
 
here's what a burson v5i hybrid opamp looks like, it's part discrete and part IC and still relatively small.  
 

 

[alvin1118]

  sorry for the late response but it takes me a while to get around to things, I'm the king of procrastinating
tonight I tried to upgrade the opamp to my little-known korean discrete opamp the Audiofeel opa3301
 
tools needed
1) discrete opamp or at least a nicer ic opamp
2) ic puller(optional, you can always pry the old opamp out with a flathead or something)
3) torx t-8 screwdriver
 

 
 
unfortunately I found out my discrete opamp was too large and tall to fit due to the ribbon cable running over the opamp socket.  I could have disconnected the cable and replace the opamp with an ic opamp or a hybrid discrete/ic like the burson v5i but I only had a really big discrete opamp available.  In the pics the opamp is the thing wrapped in foil, I haven't removed it from the packaging yet.
 

 


 
as you can see it's too big so I was a total failure as an opamp roller.
 
On the plus side, I confirmed the dac is 10/10 when it comes to build quality, the circuit boards look extremely thick and all the components look perfectly put into place and brand new stock.  I felt like I was lifting the hood of a brand new supercar and looking at the polished and cleaned engine.  The panels are extremely thick and the tolerances of the way they fit together is super tight.  When I dropped the top plate back into place it made the noise a manhole cover makes when they drop it back into the hole in a movie.  All the rear i/o ports are super solid chassis mounted parts with nice hook up wire connecting to the pcb, much better than pcb mounted which rely on soldering to the pcb to stay in place, the type you'd see on cheaper components.  Or even some higher end ones.
 
edit:  so I learned probably the nicest opamp upgrade would be either a nice IC opamp or the Burson v5i, which is the one I'd probably try first
 
here's what a burson v5i hybrid opamp looks like, it's part discrete and part IC and still relatively small.  
 

 
uncola, will it still fit if i send you a longer ribbon cable?

 

[uncola]

Hmm I suppose so , I could move the longer cable so it runs on the side of the opamp.  Ok let's do it.  This is a really big opamp, it's much taller than my burson v5 sound supreme opamps I use in my hattor preamp.
 
edit:  let's do it, FOR SCIENCE.  it can't cost that much to mail such a tiny cable can it?  

 

[alvin1118]

It shall be free of charge for you sir. Let me sort out the shipment after CNY!
 

  Hmm I suppose so , I could move the longer cable so it runs on the side of the opamp.  Ok let's do it.  This is a really big opamp, it's much taller than my burson v5 sound supreme opamps I use in my hattor preamp.
 
edit:  let's do it, FOR SCIENCE.  it can't cost that much to mail such a tiny cable can it?  

 

[uncola]

woohoo!  =)  

 

[Greg121986]

Very interesting. 
 
My Holo Spring L3 comes in tomorrow. The Vinshine will be coming to my office where it will get a lot of use with my new HD700. Playing around with the opamps sounds like a good time! 

 

[uncola]

Hey don't count the r2r ref out of the game just yet. You might like it more than the spring dac. Spring dac is supposed to be best in NOS mode.. some people like NOS and some don't. And I hear the USB input on the spring dac really benefits from regen/jitterbug because it's not isolated like the USB to i2s on the soekris. Not trying to start a rivalry between dac threads. one thing I've noticed lately is the r2r ref sounds better after being left on for 5 hours

 

[rigo]

R2R arrived.  Will be using it single ended with an ampandsound Mogwai and balanced to an iFi iCan Pro.  Not much time with it yet, but already enjoying the PSB Imagine Bs in the home office right now.  
 
 

 

 

 

[uncola]

heh I like how it just barely fit in your shelving.